History & Background of Jammu Police

In the good old times, the Police, as per Sir Walter Lawrence, constituted of 1000 village watchmen or “Chowkidars” who were known for their vigilant and inquisitorial abilities. They were mostly drawn from the “Doom” caste of the population known for their excellent detection and transmission of intelligence. It was in the year 1873 AD that formal Police foxrce came into existence with one Police officer Known as Kotwal and 14 Thanedars for Srinagar City. This nuclear force would control crime and take care of Law and order situations with help of Chowkidars and “Harkars”, who were paid by the population out of their annual agricultural produce on a voluntary basis.